Gardiner Street
Encyclopedia
Gardiner Street is in Dublin, Ireland and stretches from the River Liffey
at its southern end via Mountjoy Square to Dorset Street
at its northern end. The Georgian
Custom House
terminates the vista at the southern end, and the street is divided into Upper, Middle and Lower sections.
Lower Gardiner street south leads from Mountjoy Square to the fine stone Georgian
Custom House
overlooking the river Liffey. Several youth hostels
are on this part of the street. The DART
line crosses near the intersection with Beresford Place behind the Custom House and this end is only a few minutes walk from
Connolly station
, and around the corner from Lower Gardiner Street is the Luas
red line stop at Busáras
. There is heavy road traffic on Lower Gardiner Street, as it is also part of Dublin City Council
's Inner Orbital Route and in the absence of adequate mitigation measures, pedestrian provision is not what it should be (despite being overlooked by the headquarters of the Department of Environment which are in the Custom House).
Middle and Upper Gardiner street are separated from the lower street by the west side of Mountjoy Square, a Dublin Georgian square noted for its cultural and historic connections. On Upper Gardiner Street is located Saint Francis Xavier Church
, a notable stone Classical building dating from 1829 and with a connection to the poet Gerald Manley Hopkins. Gardiner Street has another notable poetic connection by way of featuring in Patrick Kavanagh
's poem "Memory of My Father".
Commenced in 1792 and finished around 1820, Gardiner Street was developed by Luke Gardiner
as part of his grand vision which was to see a crescent built where the Mater Hospital now stands. Georgian terraces remain at the lower end approaching the Custom House, and at Mountjoy Square, and streets in its surrounds.
(1820–1890) lived in number 47 Lower Gardiner Street. Boucicault was involved with over 150 plays, and is best known for The Shaughraun
, yet also wrote “Napolean’s Old Guard”, “A Legend of the Devil’s Dyke”, “London Assurance”, and “The Colleen Bawn”. His mother was a relative of the first Arthur Guinness
. Both Sean O’Casey (see also Mountjoy Square) and JM Synge acknowledged him as being a major influence on their dramatic works.
Number 41 Gardiner Street Upper was home of Joe McGuinness, elected as a Sinn Féin
TD for Longford South to the first Dáil in 1918 while in Lewes Gaol
, under the slogan of “Vote him in to get him out”. During the Easter Rising
in 1916 McGuinness was also involved in commandeering the Four Courts
for the volunteers.
River Liffey
The Liffey is a river in Ireland, which flows through the centre of Dublin. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac. The river supplies much of Dublin's water, and a range of recreational opportunities.-Name:The river was previously named An Ruirthech,...
at its southern end via Mountjoy Square to Dorset Street
Dorset Street
For the former London street of the same name, see Dorset Street Dorset Street is an important thoroughfare on the northside of Dublin, Ireland, and was originally part of the Slighe Midh-Luchra, Dublin's ancient road to the north that begins where the original bridging point at Church Street is...
at its northern end. The Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
Custom House
The Custom House
The Custom House is a neoclassical 18th century building in Dublin, Ireland which houses the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government...
terminates the vista at the southern end, and the street is divided into Upper, Middle and Lower sections.
Lower Gardiner street south leads from Mountjoy Square to the fine stone Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
Custom House
Custom House
A custom house or customs house was a building housing the offices for the government officials who processed the paperwork for the import and export of goods into and out of a country. Customs officials also collected customs duty on imported goods....
overlooking the river Liffey. Several youth hostels
Hostel
Hostels provide budget oriented, sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms may also be available...
are on this part of the street. The DART
Dublin Area Rapid Transit
The Dublin Area Rapid Transit is part of the suburban railway network in Ireland, running mainly along the coastline of Dublin Bay on the Trans-Dublin route, from Greystones in County Wicklow, through Dublin to Howth and Malahide in County Dublin.Trains are powered via a 1500V DC overhead catenary...
line crosses near the intersection with Beresford Place behind the Custom House and this end is only a few minutes walk from
Connolly station
Dublin Connolly railway station
Dublin Connolly, commonly called Connolly station , is one of the main railway stations in Dublin, Ireland, and is a focal point in the Irish route network. Opened in 1844 as Amiens Street Station, the ornate facade has a distinctive Italianate tower at its centre...
, and around the corner from Lower Gardiner Street is the Luas
Luas
Luas , also promoted in the development stage as the Dublin Light Rail System, is a tram or light rail system serving Dublin, the first such system in the decades since the closure of the last of the Dublin tramways. In 2007, the system carried 28.4 million passengers, a growth of 10% since...
red line stop at Busáras
Busáras
Busáras is the central bus station in Dublin, Ireland for intercity and regional bus services operated by Bus Éireann. Busáras is also a stop on the Red Line of the Luas system, just before the terminus at Dublin Connolly railway station. Áras Mhic Dhiarmada is the official name of the...
. There is heavy road traffic on Lower Gardiner Street, as it is also part of Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council is the local authority for the city of Dublin in Ireland. It has 52 members and is the largest local authority in Ireland. Until 2001, it was known as Dublin Corporation.-Legal status:...
's Inner Orbital Route and in the absence of adequate mitigation measures, pedestrian provision is not what it should be (despite being overlooked by the headquarters of the Department of Environment which are in the Custom House).
Middle and Upper Gardiner street are separated from the lower street by the west side of Mountjoy Square, a Dublin Georgian square noted for its cultural and historic connections. On Upper Gardiner Street is located Saint Francis Xavier Church
Saint Francis Xavier Church, Dublin
Saint Francis Xavier Church, popularly known as Gardiner Street Church, is a Roman Catholic Church on Upper Gardiner Street, near Mountjoy Square. The church is run by the Jesuits.-History:...
, a notable stone Classical building dating from 1829 and with a connection to the poet Gerald Manley Hopkins. Gardiner Street has another notable poetic connection by way of featuring in Patrick Kavanagh
Patrick Kavanagh
Patrick Kavanagh was an Irish poet and novelist. Regarded as one of the foremost poets of the 20th century, his best known works include the novel Tarry Flynn and the poems Raglan Road and The Great Hunger...
's poem "Memory of My Father".
Commenced in 1792 and finished around 1820, Gardiner Street was developed by Luke Gardiner
Luke Gardiner
Luke Gardiner was an Irish property developer and politician.In the Irish House of Commons he represented Tralee from 1725 until 1727 and Thomastown from 1727 until his death in 1755 . He was appointed to the Irish Privy Council on 2 August 1737.In 1711 he married Anne Stewart, daughter of the Hon...
as part of his grand vision which was to see a crescent built where the Mater Hospital now stands. Georgian terraces remain at the lower end approaching the Custom House, and at Mountjoy Square, and streets in its surrounds.
Historic former residents
Playwright, producer and actor Dion BoucicaultDion Boucicault
Dionysius Lardner Boursiquot , commonly known as Dion Boucicault, was an Irish actor and playwright famed for his melodramas. By the later part of the 19th century, Boucicault had become known on both sides of the Atlantic as one of the most successful actor-playwright-managers then in the...
(1820–1890) lived in number 47 Lower Gardiner Street. Boucicault was involved with over 150 plays, and is best known for The Shaughraun
The Shaughraun
The Shaughraun is a melodramatic play written by Irish playwright Dion Boucicault. It was first performed at Wallack's Theatre, New York, on 14 November 1874. Boucicault played Con in the original production...
, yet also wrote “Napolean’s Old Guard”, “A Legend of the Devil’s Dyke”, “London Assurance”, and “The Colleen Bawn”. His mother was a relative of the first Arthur Guinness
Arthur Guinness
Arthur Guinness was an Irish brewer and the founder of the Guinness brewery business and family.He was also an entrepreneur, visionary and philanthropist....
. Both Sean O’Casey (see also Mountjoy Square) and JM Synge acknowledged him as being a major influence on their dramatic works.
Number 41 Gardiner Street Upper was home of Joe McGuinness, elected as a Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
TD for Longford South to the first Dáil in 1918 while in Lewes Gaol
Lewes (HM Prison)
HM Prison Lewes is a local men's prison, located in Lewes in East Sussex, England. The term 'local' means that the prison holds people on remand to the local courts, as well as sentenced prisoners. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service....
, under the slogan of “Vote him in to get him out”. During the Easter Rising
Easter Rising
The Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...
in 1916 McGuinness was also involved in commandeering the Four Courts
Four Courts
The Four Courts in Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's main courts building. The Four Courts are the location of the Supreme Court, the High Court and the Dublin Circuit Court. The building until 2010 also formerly was the location for the Central Criminal Court.-Gandon's Building:Work based on...
for the volunteers.